Department Updates
Strategy and Impact
• JFRE, Weinberg, and WOV committees have all met and are well underway with FY26 allocation decisions. Through the efforts of Strategy & Impact’s program officers, 17 new agencies were identified for WOV, JFRE, and Weinberg FY26 submissions both locally and in Israel.
• As part of the department’s new priority on strengthening relationships with local grantees, Strategy & Impact staff members attended over 30 agency events and site visits in the Philadelphia area since the beginning of the fiscal year.
• The Emergency Response Committee continues to grant funding raised as part of the Israel Emergency Relief campaign. Under guidance from Jewish Federation staff Tali Lidar and Kelly Romirowsky, and ERC Chair Daniel Eisenstadt, the committee has narrowed their funding priorities to support agencies focusing on mental health programs and support for reservists and their families.
Finance/IT/Operations/Real Estate/Donor Services and Data Services
• Another independent financial statement audit for the Jewish Federation and the Foundation for Jewish Day Schools has been completed. Both audits were concluded without issue and an unqualified opinion was issued by the auditors without any deficiencies or concerns listed in the management letter.
• The Fiscal Year 2026 budget is in the works. The budget draft was presented to the Finance Committee on March 17.
• Work continues on implementing the new financial resource planning and reporting system with a go-live target of May 2025.
• The Mitzvah Food Program continues to address the growing food insecurity need in Greater Philadelphia. MFP has developed a concise and transparent results reporting system, which is providing donors with near real time reporting in an easy to read format with a clear call to action.
• The Jewish Federation is developing a multi-year strategic plan for community security. The team is investigating community-wide options for the next large undertaking. An action plan in development will include minimum funding requirements to support these important initiatives.
• The Jewish Federation has leased the classroom building on the Mandell Campus to Cheder Chabad on a short-term basis to bridge the gap between their departing the Schwartz Campus and securing a long-term facility.
• The Jewish Federation has entered into discussions with Wyncote Academy to extend their current lease on the Mandell Campus for an additional two years. The rentals to Cheder Chabad and Wyncote Academy have helped to transform the Mandell Campus to a financially performing asset.
• The Jewish Federation is coming to the tail end of its current evaluation of the endowment accounting system to determine if we will move forward with migrating to a new service provider. We anticipate a go / no go decision in April 2025.
• The Jewish Federation has begun to evaluate the current customer relationship management (CRM) system to determine a pathway forward with the existing system or whether a system change would be prudent. A decision is anticipated on the CRM by October 2025.
Caring for Holocaust Survivors
The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia believes that Holocaust Survivors should live out their lives in dignity. Right now, the world’s remaining Holocaust Survivors face disproportionate rates of poverty and food insecurity, many being forced to choose between heating their homes and buying food, or between medication and home repairs.
The Jewish Federation provides funding for organizations to address the holistic needs of Holocaust Survivors, including medical, socialization and basic needs. In addition, the Jewish Federation leads initiatives to educate, commemorate and advocate on and about the Holocaust to ensure that the Greater Philadelphia community never forgets about the atrocities of the past and so that history doesn’t repeat itself.
11,700+
Older adults, including Holocaust Survivors, served through various Jewish Federation supported programs in Greater Philadelphia
61 Years of hosting the annual Philadelphia Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony
1,500
Survivors receive bi-monthly food boxes and hygiene products through the Jewish Federation’s grantee Latet, Israel’s largest food bank
Our Network of Partners
I’m very grateful to the Jewish Federation for all the work done in support of helping Survivors and the aid given to Israel.”
– Daniel Goldsmith
First-Generation Holocaust Survivor
The Jewish Federation partners with a number of organizations to work together in supporting Holocaust Survivors and educating the community on the horrors of the past.
• ADL Philadelphia
• AJC Philadelphia/ Southern NJ
• Children of Jewish Holocaust Survivors Association
• Holocaust Awareness Museum
• Jewish Family and Children’s Service
• KleinLife
About the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
• KAVOD SHEF
• Philadelphia Holocaust Remembrance Foundation
• Philadelphia Parks & Recreation
• Seed the Dream Foundation
• Sons and Daughters of Holocaust Survivors of Greater Philadelphia
• 3GPhilly
Since 1901, the Jewish Federation has mobilized resources to support the community’s most pressing needs. In Fiscal Year 2024, the Jewish Federation invested $80.7 million into the community through its three pillars: Caring for Those in Need Locally, Supporting Israel and Global Jewry, and Securing a Vibrant Jewish Future. You can support the work of the Jewish Federation: jewishphilly.org/donate
jewishphilly.org/donate
Community Leadership Development / Engagement
• Over 50 congregational board members from 24 synagogues across the region participated in an orientation session on Jan. 28, to network with one another, share issues their congregations face and hear about resources the Jewish Federation can provide for them.
• The Jewish Federation Kehillah leadership team, as well as clergy, educators, executive directors, agency leaders and lay leaders from the neighborhood Kehillot, gathered for an orientation session on March 11 to learn more about leadership development opportunities for their constituencies through the Jewish Federation.
• The Jewish Federation Community Council will meet in person on March 20 at the Barbara and Harvey Brodsky Enrichment Center to hear directly from key Jewish Federation staff and two local agency recipients for high-level briefings and an opportunity to share their own thoughts with the presenters.
• The Community Engagement Manager team has had two retreats focused on relational engagement and building a pipeline of donors and leaders in an effort to bring more people into Jewish Philly.
Marketing/Events/PR
• In total, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia secured 10 pieces of coverage in February 2025, focusing on the organization’s participation in the Antisemitism Town Hall and response to the Swarthmore SJP incident. These articles included features in Delaware Valley Journal, the Jewish Exponent, and eJP.
• Articles in February 2025 featuring the Jewish Federation were exposed to an estimated audience of 238,000 people and received nearly 32,000 views, reinforcing the Jewish Federation’s role as the protector and advocate for local Jewish students.
• In February 2025, the marketing team saw an increase in impressions on all four platforms, including a 141.8% increase in page impressions on Facebook, a 175.2% increase in post impressions on Facebook, a 17.7% increase on Instagram, and a 2.4% increase on LinkedIn.
• Click here to see a full PR recap and click here for a full social media recap for February 2025.
• The marketing team launched a multipronged Super Sunday campaign through ads, radio, digital communication, text, direct mail and calls, which enabled the Jewish Federation to exceed the amount of donations it received when compared to last year’s communal day of giving with a total raised of $321,692.
FRD/Affinity/Endowment
• Jennifer Brier participated in JFNA’s High Impact Fundraising Institute, a three-day immersive program in partnership with the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. The program had a high-level cohort of 30 federation professionals from across North America.
• WOV postponed its Mission to Israel to November 6-11, 2025. Participants will experience the work that the group does in Israel to transform the lives of self-identifying women and girls. This will be a unique opportunity to meet and connect with those individuals who the group benefits.
• The WOV Grant Review Committee members met and voted to move five Israeli organizations to the finalist stage. Voting will take place in the spring.
• Lily Kanter, entrepreneurial trailblazer in the home design industry, most notably for Serena & Lily, will be the keynote speaker at the Spring Event on May 14.
• The Jewish Federation hosted a sold-out event in Florida that featured JCRC’s Center to Combat Antisemitism, as well as the work supporting students on campus through Hillel.
• The Women’s Philanthropy Journeys program, designed to train and inspire leaders, launched with a select group of 20 participants who will meet monthly.
• Women’s Philanthropy is thrilled to announce that the Annual Lion of Judah Event will take place on Tuesday, May 20, at the Switch House at the Battery. The evening will feature Jewish comedian and Emmy award-winner Judy Gold. Margie Honickman will be honored with the Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award.
• JFRE will host a panel at The Laurel Rittenhouse on Tuesday, Apr. 1 on Making Philadelphia into a Regional Powerhouse. The panel will be moderated by JFRE Executive Committee member Robert Zuritsky. Speakers will be Benjamin Kirsher, Chief Transformation and Opportunity Officer and Alba Martinez, City of Philadelphia Commerce Director.
• NextGen is traveling to Israel for the first time in over five years, aiming to bring 40 young professionals for a high-level experience. So far, 20 spots have been filled and mission leadership is strategically recruiting.
• NextGen is actively recruiting for the National
Young Leadership Cabinet, while expanding the Ben Gurion Society (gifts of $1,000+) and Levin Society (gifts of $2,500+).
• On Jan. 29, two families from the Legacy Philanthropy program came together to host a parlor with their friends and peers to bring awareness to the alarming growth of antisemitism and to highlight the Jewish Federation’s response through its Center to Combat Antisemitsm. The evening also was the launch of a Matching Gift Fund in which two families highlighted the importance of the next generation needing to step up and be the ones to leading in these efforts. The goal is to grow the matching gift fund large enough so that we can take it community wide and have a dollar-for-dollar matching gift campaign to not only educate the entire community about the rise in antisemitism, but also inspire others to get involved, no matter their giving capacity, and support this work through a matching gift campaign.
JCRC and Government Affairs
• On March 25, a group of 11 lay leaders, joined by Michael Balaban and the JCRC team, traveled to Washington, D.C., for advocacy meetings with Congressional Delegation and Senators. The group met with Senator John Fetterman, Congressman Dwight Evans, and staff from the offices of Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, Congressman Brendan Boyle, Senator Dave McCormick, and Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon to discuss key priorities. They advocated for the Antisemitism Awareness Act to combat rising antisemitism, increased funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to protect Jewish institutions, and support for Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, and the Holocaust Survivors Assistance Program to assist vulnerable communities. This mission reinforced our commitment to ensuring the safety, security, and well-being of the Jewish community through direct engagement with policymakers.
• On March 11, the New Golden Age Town Hall brought together community members from the Jewish Community Relations Council and Culture Changing Christians for an open and authentic dialogue on Combating Bigotry and Rebuilding Bridges. Participants engaged in meaningful discussions about standing up for one another, addressing hate, and protecting each other’s histories. Following the meeting, the group issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to solidarity and mutual support, emphasizing the importance of combating hate in all its forms and strengthening interfaith and intercultural relationships.
• In partnership with the Dialogue Institute at Temple University, the JCRC led a workshop for the leadership of the Lower Merion School District about Understanding Religious Bias and the Importance of Dialogue. The session was held at Harriton High School, and over 60 educators, including assistant superintendents and principals, attended.
• JCRC hosted Yirmiyahu Danzig, content creator and digital educator for OpenDor Media’s Unpacked for Educators, for a speaking tour throughout Greater Philadelphia. On his five-day visit, Danzig educated over 450 people at institutions such as Barrack Hebrew Academy, Kohelet Modern Yeshiva, the Shipley School, and the University of Pennsylvania. Danzig’s sessions covered many issues, including the rise of antisemitism on social media, Jews as indigenous to the Land of Israel, and the diversity that exists in the Jewish community.
Joey Cahn has been promoted to Event Specialist.
For more than two years, Cahn has been an invaluable member of the events team, demonstrating exceptional organizational skills and leadership in planning and executing community and fundraising events. His ability to manage logistics, coordinate with vendors, streamline processes, and ensure smooth event execution has made him a key player to the team. In his new role, Cahn will take on expanded responsibilities, including leading the internal food ordering process, ensuring accurate cost estimates and clear communication with relevant teams to prevent discrepancies. As part of this, he will supervise Roger and they will work closely with staff to enhance efficiency in food supply management and event execution. Cahn will play a vital role in training and supporting the team to improve the organization and effectiveness of the food ordering process. Additionally, Cahn will manage events for the Foundation, Legacy Philanthropy, JFRE, and Women’s Philanthropy, taking the lead in planning and coordination for these key initiatives. As part of this work, he will oversee the Women’s Leadership Development Program, ensuring its continued success.
Ariel Feinberg has been promoted to Event Specialist.
For more than two years, Feinberg has been a vital member of the events team, leading successful community and fundraising events, managing event registration and staffing, and ensuring accurate data reporting. Her dedication and attention to detail have significantly enhanced our event operations. In her new role, Feinberg will continue collaborating with colleagues to plan and execute a variety of Jewish Federation events from start to finish. She will oversee logistics, ensure that on-site execution aligns with organizational goals, and provide post-event support. Additionally, she will play a key role in tracking registrant data to support an accurate event return-oninvestment assessment at the end of the fiscal year. Partnering with Finance, Feinberg will begin an in-depth analysis, researching new registration systems and refining processes for BBEC, event registration, marketing, and Airtable. Feinberg will focus on managing both community and special events, including those within the Kehillot, the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), P2G, Missions, NextGen, Leadership Development, and Governance. She will also oversee the external and community calendars, working closely with outside organizations to maintain accuracy.
Jonathan Silbert has been promoted to Creative & Production Specialist.
Silbert has been an integral member of the Jewish Federation for the past eight years, beginning his tenure as a production assistant. Throughout his time with the organization, he has consistently demonstrated exceptional resourcefulness, creativity, and a strong commitment to team collaboration. Silbert has shown a continuous drive for professional growth, diligently expanding his skill set and applying his technical expertise across various platforms. His proficiency in both design and video applications and understanding of design principles has been instrumental to his success. Most recently, Silbert took on a key role in the creation of all materials for the Life and Legacy program. In this capacity, he was responsible for crafting the visual identity of the program, designing materials for events, and overseeing the distribution of content to partners. His attention to detail and ability to manage multiple aspects of the project have significantly contributed to the program’s impact and success. Silbert’s dedication to excellence and his ability to adapt and excel in a dynamic environment make him a valuable asset to the team and the Jewish Federation as a whole.
Benjamin Geise has joined the marketing team as Marketing Coordinator
starting on Monday, February 17. Prior to joining the Jewish Federation, Geise worked at Defy, an award winning branding agency, as the project manager. In this role, he collaborated with the clients as well as managed various projects ensuring that the timeline set for each project was completed on time. Geise also assisted with editing videos. Previously, Geise worked as a producer & audio editor for Radio Kismet doing media market research and producing and editing videos. Geise holds a B.A. in Media Marketing and Production from Temple University, Klein College of Media, and Communications.
Lannie Hulnick has rejoined the Jewish Federation as the new Director of Women’s Philanthropy.
Most recently, Hulnick worked at Kesher Israel Chester County as the Executive Director. In this role, Hulnick was responsible for managing the day-to-day operations, including supervision of the building and front office staff. She worked in partnership with lay leadership and the education director to optimize the functions of the organization, as well as oversaw the congregation’s Board of Directors. Hulnick also worked on grant writing, identifying and soliciting new donors and held multiple fundraising events. Hulnick previously worked for the Jewish Federation from 2004 –2009 as a senior Kehillah coordinator. Hulnick holds a Master’s Degree in Jewish Communal Service from Gratz College. She also has a B.A. in Religious Studies with a Minor in Sociology from the University of Calgary.
Rebecca Saunders has joined the Strategy & Impact team as Program Associate.
Prior to joining the Jewish Federation, Saunders worked at Action for Boston Community Development as the data and evaluation intern. In this role, she worked on external data analysis projects to identify publicly accessible data sets and data shared by program partners, as well as created presentations of the data for various stakeholders. Saunders was also a teaching assistant at Brown University where she was responsible for selecting relevant course readings and assisting students with research Projects. Saunders holds a Masters degree in Public Health from Brown University.
Finance Snapshot
Operating Results FYTD ............................................................................... January 2025
Compared to Operating Forecast
Operating Surplus ............................................................................................
$514,439
Staffing Levels ................................................................................................... 81
Surplus (Deficit) from staffing levels
$178,000
Surplus (Deficit) from Bond Interest Expense ....................................... $(18,000)
Surplus (Deficit) from All Other Areas ...................................................... $354,439
JCF Pledge Accounts Receivable as of March 10, 2025
FY 2024 Campaign
$1,353,291
FY 2025 Campaign ........................................................................................... $1,543,173
Total ...................................................................................................... $2,968,294
Operating Cash Balance .................................................................................
$8,900,000
Provisional and subject to final audit adjustments
Summary by Fiscal Year Campaign (BBEC Gift Year Specified by Donor) Source: Financial Accounting System As
(1)
Unrestricted, Allocable & Net Restricted
